Login
Login

John Phillip Law

{{Short description|American actor (1937–2008)}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = John Phillip Law

| image = John Phillip Law 1979 crop.jpg

| caption = Law in 1979

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|09|07}}

| birth_place = Hollywood, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|05|13|1937|09|07}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| occupation = Film, television actor

| spouse = Shawn Ryan (divorced)

| children = 1

| yearsactive = 1950–2008

}}

John Phillip Law (September 7, 1937 – May 13, 2008) was an American film actor.{{cite news| newspaper=The Independent| first=Tom| last=Vallance| location=London| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-phillip-law-actor-best-known-for-barbarella-829947.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-phillip-law-actor-best-known-for-barbarella-829947.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title=John Phillip Law: Actor best known for 'Barbarella'| date=May 17, 2008}}

Following a breakthrough role as a Russian sailor in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), Law became best known for his roles as gunfighter Bill Meceita in the spaghetti western Death Rides a Horse (1967) with Lee Van Cleef, the blind angel Pygar in the science fiction film Barbarella (1968) with Jane Fonda, the title character in the action film Danger: Diabolik (1968), Manfred von Richthofen in Von Richthofen and Brown (1971), and news anchor Robin Stone in The Love Machine (1971). The latter reteamed him with Alexandra Hay, his co-star from the 1968 "acid comedy" Skidoo. His most famous role is that of Sinbad in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973), which was a worldwide box office hit and won the first Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}.

Early years

Law was born in Los Angeles, California, to John Law, a deputy sheriff, and Phyllis Sallee, a Broadway actress. At college, he initially studied engineering before transferring to the University of Hawaii to study psychology and drama.Clifford, Terry (August 7, 1966). "Actor in 'The Russians Are Coming' Arrives Big with U.S. Teen-Agers". Chicago Tribune: p. H11.

As a child, he played a page in The Magnificent Yankee.Alpert, Don (August 21, 1966). "New Discovery Is Law Unto Himself". The Washington Post and Times-Herald: p. G3.

Career

=Lincoln Center and Italy=

Upon finishing college, Law appeared in Garson Kanin's Come on Strong (1962),{{cite news |date=May 16, 2008 |title=John Phillip Law, 70, Film Actor, Is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/movies/16law.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B8 |agency=Associated Press}} and worked for three years at the Repertory Theater at the Lincoln Center,{{cite news| title=Lincoln Theater Begins Repertory: ' After the Fall' by Miller Opens in Temporary Home| first=Milton| last=Estrow| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 24, 1964| page=19| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/24/archives/lincol-theater-begins-repertory-after-the-fall-by-miller-opens-in.html| url-access=subscription}} where he acted in their productions of Marco's Millions,{{cite news| title=Theater: O'Neill Revival: ' Marco Millions' Given by Repertory Troupe| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/21/archives/theater-oneill-revival-marco-millions-given-by-repertory-troupe.html| first=Howard| last=Taubman| newspaper=The New York Times| date=February 21, 1964| page=33}} The Changeling,{{cite news| title=Theater: 'The Changeling' Is Revived: Lincoln Center Troupe Opens 2d Season| first=Howard| last=Taubman| newspaper=The New York Times| date=October 30, 1964| page=32| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/30/theater-the-changeling-is-revived.html| url-access=subscription}} and Tartuffe.{{cite news| title=The Theater: 'Tartuffe': Moliere's Play Staged by Lincoln Theater| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/01/15/archives/the-theater-tartuffe-molieres-play-staged-by-lincoln-theater.html| first=Howard| last=Taubman| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 15, 1965| page=23| url-access=subscription}} After leaving, he moved to Europe where he appeared in High Infidelity and Three Nights of Love.

=Early Hollywood films=

Law was cast by director Norman Jewison as the young English-speaking Russian sailor Alexei Kolchin in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, after the director saw him in an Italian movie.{{cite news| title=Hudson Up for 'Prix' Lead| last=Martin| first=Betty| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=September 27, 1965| page=C19}} A year later, in 1967, he played a farmer in Otto Preminger's Hurry Sundown.{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hurry-sundown-1967|title=Hurry Sundown (1967)|author=Roger Ebert|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|website=RogerEbert.com|date=May 29, 1967}} Later that year, he acted in Death Rides a Horse (1967) with Lee Van Cleef. The following year, he played the title role of Danger: Diabolik{{cite book| last1=Aguilar| first1=Carlos| last2=Haas| first2=Anita| title=John Phillip Law - Diabolik Angel| publisher=Scifiworld/Quatermass| date=June 1, 2008| isbn=978-8461245017}}{{cite news| title=Senta to Play Secret Agent| last=Martin| first=Betty| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=April 22, 1967| page=19}} an angel in Barbarella, as well as roles in Skidoo and The Sergeant (1968).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-movie-call-sheet/149263032/ |title=Movie Call Sheet: Law Given 'Sergeant' Role |last=Martin |first=Betty |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=18 |date=October 21, 1967 |access-date=2024-06-13 |via=Newspapers.com}} Although cast in The Gypsy Moths, his part was re-cast. He turned down roles in Midnight Cowboy and Easy Rider.{{cite magazine| url=https://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/2845-JOHN-EXSHAW-REVIEWS-A-NEW-BOOK-ABOUT-JOHN-PHILLIP-LAW.html| title=John Exchaw Reviews A New Book About John Phillip Law| magazine=Cinema Retro| date=January 16, 2009}}File:John Phillip Law.png

He had a cameo role in The Last Movie (1971), which also marked the release of Von Richthofen and Brown, with Law playing Manfred von Richthofen. For the role, Law learnt how to take off and land an aircraft. Later that year, he starred in The Love Machine (1971), based on Jacqueline Susann's novel of the same name.{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-love-machine-1971|title=The Love Machine (1971)|author=Roger Ebert|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|website=RogerEbert.com|date=August 13, 1971}} Throughout the early seventies, he had parts in Polvere di stelle ("Stardust"), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Open Season, and The Spiral Staircase.{{cite news| title=Inhumanity Is the Name of Game| last=Thomas| first=Kevin| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=September 25, 1974| page=G11}}

= Europe =

Law continued to find success in Europe, acting in Docteur Justice (1975), A Whisper in the Dark (1976),Tu dios y mi infierno ("Your God and My Hell") (1976),The Cassandra Crossing (1977), the Target of an Assassin (1977), Eyes Behind the Wall (1977), The Rider on the White Horse (1978), and The Devil's Bed (1978). {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In the later 1970s, Law returned to America, where he acted in The Best Place to Be and Ring of Darkness.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-a-princely-welcome/149262840/ |title=A Princely Welcome for Kermit |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=50 |date=1979-05-14 |access-date=2024-06-13 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review-law-finds-his-c/149262209/ |title=Law finds his career education |first=Mary A. Dinkel |last=Sullivan |newspaper=Decatur Sunday Herald and Review |page=40 |date=1978-07-23 |access-date=2024-06-13 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=1980s onward=

Law continued to act, taking roles in Attack Force Z (1982),Tin Man (1983), Night Train to Terror (1985), American Commandos (1985), Moon in Scorpio (1987), Thunder III (1987), Striker (1987), Una grande storia d'amore ("A Great Love Story") (1988), Space Mutiny (1988), Blood Delirium (1988), A Case of Honor (1989), and Cold Heat (1989). He also appeared in Alienator (1990), Shining Blood (1992), Il giorno del porco ("Pig Day") (1993), The Mountain of the Lord (1993), Hindsight (1996), My Ghost Dog (1997), Wanted (1999), and Bad Guys (2000). In 2001, he appeared in Roman Coppola's CQ. His final roles included Curse of the Forty-Niner (2002) (which he also associate produced), The Three Faces of Terror (2004), and Ray of Sunshine (2006). His last credited film role was in 2008's {{Interlanguage link|I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell|it|3=Chinaman's Chance|lt=Chinaman's Chance}}.

Personal life

He married and later divorced actress Shawn Ryan, with whom he had a daughter.{{cite news |title=Obituary for John Phillip Law (Aged 70) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57596223/obituary-for-john-phillip-law-aged-70/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=May 17, 2008}} His brother Tom was a hippie commune leader in Taos NM and Woodstock music festival (1969) personage. Tom's ex-wife is the photographer Lisa Law. See Flashing On The Sixties (1987).

Death

On December 13, 2007, his doctors diagnosed Law with pancreatic cancer.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_9340562 |title=Career, looks didn't define actor |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=6 July 2020 |newspaper=Daily Breeze |location=Hermosa Beach, CA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723092511/http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_9340562 |archive-date=July 23, 2008 |url-status=dead}} He died five months later on May 13, 2008, aged 70, at his home in Los Angeles.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/may/16/obituaries.mainsection |title=John Phillip Law |first=Ronald |last=Bergan |date=16 May 2008 |access-date=6 July 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}

Selected filmography

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

{{div col end}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category-inline}}

  • {{IMDb name|0492342}}
  • {{IBDB name}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Law, John Phillip}}

Category:1937 births

Category:2008 deaths

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:Male actors from Hollywood, Los Angeles

Category:Male Spaghetti Western actors

Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California

Category:20th-century American male actors